Allman Brothers Band Not Breaking Up After All?

The stretch of bad news that has plagued the Allman Brothers Band may be coming to an end. In a new interview, Gregg Allman says that, contrary to reports from earlier this year, they have not reached, to borrow the title of their 1991 hit, the end of the line.

"As for the rumor of the brothers breaking up after 45 years, in other words, after this year," he told Radio.com. "That is a rumor. We are not breaking up. We are replacing Derek Trucks."

Back in January, the twin guitar attack of Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks simultaneously announced that they were leaving the group to spend more time with their respective groups, Gov't Mule and the Tedeschi Trucks Band. The decision caused Allman to tell an interviewer, “This is it — this is the end of it. Forty-five years is enough, and I want to do something else anyway," while admitting that "[w]e may get together every five years and just do one play at a time."

The reason for the backtrack could possibly be because, despite being the band's namesake, Allman may not have had the autonomy to make that decision. Drummer Butch Trucks -- Derek's uncle -- told the Miami New Times, "As soon as the two of them made the announcement then Gregg said, 'Okay, then this is the end of the line for the Allman Brothers,' which he really doesn't have the power to do, but whatever."

For now, the elder Trucks is not too concerned with the future, saying that he's "going to enjoy every minute of this year, if it is the last year then I'm not going to waste time sitting around worrying about what's to come." Still, there are a few regrets that one of their annual highlights ended on a down note. "It was sad that we had to cancel the last four shows at the Beacon because Gregg got very sick but the ten shows that we did play were some of the most fun shows I've ever played in my life. We're right at the top of our game right now so that argument goes both ways; if you're at the top of your game then why quit but then if it's time to quit then you may as well do it while you're at the top of the game. We don't want to turn into a nostalgia act, you know? There are enough of those out there."